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Lot Essay
After Liverpool, Glasgow and its neighbouring harbour at Greenock became the most favoured location for Grimshaw's depictions of nocturnal scenes of the docks. The subject enabled him to depict the intricate rigging of the shipping, as well as the effect of light, bouncing off the wet cobbles from the illuminated shop fronts. Although some of the names of the shops are genuine, Grimshaw often liked to invent names for these.
Greenock lies to the west of Glasgow on the south bank of the Clyde. Its prosperity came from shipbuilding and wool manufacturing: by the end of the 19th Century around four-hundred ships a year were transporting sugar from the Caribbean to Greenock for processing. Its growing wealth and importance is reflected in its architecture. In the middle distance can be seen the portico of William Burn's Custom House of 1818, considered the finest in the country. Grimshaw's present depiction of this burgeoning port coincided with the completion of the Italianate Municipal Buildings in 1886.
For a view of Glasgow docks by Grimshaw see lot 73.
Greenock lies to the west of Glasgow on the south bank of the Clyde. Its prosperity came from shipbuilding and wool manufacturing: by the end of the 19th Century around four-hundred ships a year were transporting sugar from the Caribbean to Greenock for processing. Its growing wealth and importance is reflected in its architecture. In the middle distance can be seen the portico of William Burn's Custom House of 1818, considered the finest in the country. Grimshaw's present depiction of this burgeoning port coincided with the completion of the Italianate Municipal Buildings in 1886.
For a view of Glasgow docks by Grimshaw see lot 73.